Senior Operator

Working independently or under direct supervision, this position performs highly skilled duties related to the operation of the District's water distribution system and its associated facilities, including hydroelectric generators, the operation of the District’s 65-million-gallon Lake Bard Water Filtration plant, ozone treatment system, and an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wellfield. These facilities support the delivery of reliable drinking water to more than 615,000 residents. The employee is expected to perform all duties in a manner that promotes a workplace culture emphasizing integrity, ingenuity, collaboration, and leadership. This position requires a valid California Water Resources Control Board Water Treatment Operator Grade 4 and Water Distribution Operator Grade 3 certifications. 

The Calleguas distribution system is primarily operated remotely via a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system located in the District Control Room. The Control Room is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with operators working in rotating 12-hour shifts. 

Water is imported continuously from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, except during planned maintenance outages and emergencies. The Lake Bard Water Filtration Plant and the ASR wellfield provide supply during outages and can supplement Metropolitan supplies during reduced-flow scenarios.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does not include direct supervision of subordinates. However, this position carries with it the expectation that employees in a training status may be assigned to a Senior Operator, who will be expected to mentor and train that individual. 

This position requires an individual with a high degree of initiative, versatility, and innovation and the ability to communicate effectively and professionally.?To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty at a proficient level. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or logically assigned to this position.

Senior Operator Duties

• Operate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor and ensure efficient operation of the water distribution system including reservoir water levels, pumping plants, pressure regulating stations, hydroelectric generating stations, and the water filtration plant.
• Operate the water treatment processes, which include filtration, backwashing, ozonation, and chemical feeds.
• Assist in the training of operators.
• Use work order system to identify maintenance and repair tasks needed in the treatment plant. 
• Participate in establishing the Division’s goals and objectives and provide input on policies and procedures.
• Complete assigned Operations Division work independently during scheduled shifts, exercising appropriate judgment within established priorities, procedures, and supervisory direction.
• Recommend changes in monitoring programs, treatment methods and process control to improve water supply, distribution, storage, pumping efficiency, and water quality.
• Analyze historical data for projected water demands and continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery, water quality, and water treatment methods and procedures. Also identify and recommend implementation opportunities for process improvement.
• Stay current with federal and state water treatment and distribution regulations and ensure they are met.
• Be responsible for their own safety and the safety of coworkers by recognizing hazards and potentially hazardous situations and being aware of safe practices on the job site.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Write clear and concise internal memoranda.
• Collaborate, communicate, and interact professionally and effectively with peers and external personnel and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Apply sound judgment and comprehension to follow instructions delivered in written, oral, or diagram form, and effectively resolve routine operational issues, including those that may arise in high-pressure situations.
• Employ an expert command of water distribution and treatment systems, wellfields, water hydraulics, and water quality regulations.
• Compile, evaluate, diagnose, and analyze complex data and information from current information and historical trends and based on these analyses, recommend and/or take appropriate action(s).
• Demonstrate initiative, dependability, and sound judgment, along with the ability to operate independently on unsupervised shifts. 
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret graphs and charts.
• Read and record system measurements, analyze the data to accurately interpret operational conditions, and make appropriate adjustments to both water distribution and treatment processes based on the results.

EQUIPMENT TO BE USED
Radios and telephones are used to communicate. The employee may be called upon to operate the District’s outboard pontoon boat. May operate a vehicle to travel to other District facilities for inspection and water sample collection. Computer equipment is used to monitor the status and operation of the distribution and treatment processes. The Senior Operator is expected to possess a wide range of skills, talents, and knowledge necessary to effectively operate the District’s Water Treatment, Wellfield and Distribution System. The position requires strong analytical ability, excellent interpersonal skills with strong oral and written communication skills, and the ability to perform research and make value-added conclusions. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty in an advanced way, be capable of comprehending complex processes and systems and consistently demonstrate superior personal skills and character. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Education and Experience 

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
• Minimum of four years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience operating a comparable water treatment and distribution system 
• Demonstrated proficiency in water system and water treatment operations with a keen understanding of water system hydraulics, water treatment processes, and regulatory requirements 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and is occasionally required to climb stairs and ladders or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and to taste or smell. A Water Treatment Operator must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee must have the ability to be able to wear and operate a half and full-face air purifying respirator and a supplied air system.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to work rotating shifts of eight or nine hours, and twelve hours and be able to respond to a request to work on short notice. 
• The job requires the employee to agree in writing to have an “on the job” paid meal period, i.e., the nature of the employee’s work will prevent the employee from being relieved of all duty.
• Employee must possess a current California State Water Resources Control Board Water Treatment Operator Grade 4 (T4) certificate and Water Distribution Operator Grade 3 (D3) certificate at time of hire, and must maintain valid water treatment and distribution operator certifications at these levels or higher throughout employment.
• Possess a California Motor Vehicle Operators License and a driving record provided by the DMV showing less than 2 points assessed in the last 36 months, no serious or multiple traffic violations or accidents, and no failure-to-appear notices within the last 36 months.
• Agree to submit to and pass the District's pre-employment, post-offer medical examination performed by a physician chosen by the District. 
• Agree to authorized background reference checking with past employers and personal references. 
• The employee must be able to handle and use typical cleaning materials and analytical chemicals used in water quality testing. The operator must be able to work around chlorine and other chemicals used in the treatment of water which are classified by Title 8, California Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, Code Section 339 as extremely hazardous materials and copper sulfate which is a toxic material.
• The employee is a designated Emergency Services Worker and is occasionally called upon to work overtime or odd schedules on short notice.?The employee must be able to work rotating shifts of eight or nine hours and twelve hours. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment described here is representative of what an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job 
The employee works in the industrial environment of the water treatment plant, well fields, support structures and confined space environments, and is exposed to moving mechanical parts. The work involves the use of toxic and hazardous chemicals used in the water treatment process.
The employee is occasionally exposed to interior wet and/or humid conditions, high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals. There is a risk of electrical shock and exposure to vibration and moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally loud. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Calleguas Municipal Water District is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identification or other protected characteristic as outlined in federal, state or local laws.